Drumhead assembly

Abstract

A drumhead assembly comprising a drumhead membrane fixed within an annular ring and a tensioning ring for tensioning the membrane, located within the annular ring and against the drumhead membrane, comprising a cylindrical rod formed in a circular, flat configuration and a tensioning member for maintaining the tensioning ring in a pre-tensioned configuration. The tensioning member can be adjustable, as in the form of a turnbuckle, so as to vary the diameter of the tensioning ring, or fixed, as in the form of a spacer, so as to maintain the tensioning ring at a predetermined diameter.

1. A drumhead assembly comprising:
 a. a drumhead membrane fixed within an annular ring; and 
 b. a tensioning ring for tensioning the membrane, located within the annular ring and against the drumhead membrane, comprising a cylindrical rod formed in a circular, flat configuration and a substantially cylindrical tensioning member inserted inline with the cylindrical rod for maintaining the tensioning ring in a pre-tensioned configuration. 
 
   
   
     2. The drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tensioning member comprises a fixed length spacer for fixing the diameter of the tensioning ring at a predetermined diameter. 
   
   
     3. The drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tensioning member comprises an adjustable member for adjusting the diameter of the tensioning ring at a user determined diameter. 
   
   
     4. The drumhead assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an engagement member comprising a retention member for retaining the membrane and a connection member for retaining the membrane in substantially fixed relation to an acoustic membrane. 
   
   
     5. The drumhead assembly of  claim 4  wherein the connection member is formed to connect to one of the group comprising an annular frame of an acoustic drumhead, a counter hoop placed over the annular frame of an acoustic drumhead on a drum shell, one or more tensioning lugs on a drum shell and one or more tension rods on a drum shell. 
   
   
     6. The drumhead assembly of  claim 4  wherein at least a portion of the engagement member is formed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
     7. The drumhead assembly of  claim 4  wherein the engagement member further comprises a stop member extending from an upper end of the engagement member to height above the top surface of the mesh membrane. 
   
   
     8. The drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the drumhead membrane is a mesh membrane. 
   
   
     9. The drumhead assembly of  claim 8  wherein the mesh membrane has an open area of from about 25 to about 75%. 
   
   
     10. The drumhead assembly of  claim 9  wherein the mesh membrane has an open area of about 30%. 
   
   
     11. The drumhead assembly of  claim 8  wherein the mesh membrane is formed of a polyester material. 
   
   
     12. The drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the tensioning member comprises one or more receptacles for accepting at least one end of the tensioning ring. 
   
   
     13. The drumhead assembly of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the one or more receptacles for accepting at least one end of the tensioning ring is smooth. 
   
   
     14. A tensioning ring for a drumhead membrane held within an annular ring comprising a cylindrical rod formed in an annular configuration and a substantially cylindrical tensioning member inserted inline with the cylindrical rod for receiving at least one end of the cylindrical rod for maintaining the tensioning ring in a pre-tensioned configuration within the annular ring and against the drumhead membrane. 
   
   
     15. The tensioning ring of  claim 14  wherein the tensioning member is a fixed length spacer for providing fixed tensioning of the drumhead. 
   
   
     16. The tensioning ring of  claim 15  wherein the tensioning member is an adjustable member for providing adjustable tensioning of the drumhead. 
   
   
     17. The tensioning ring of  claim 16  wherein the tensioning member is a turnbuckle. 
   
   
     18. A method of tensioning a drumhead having a drumhead membrane and an annular ring comprising the steps of placing a tensioning ring comprising a cylindrical rod formed in a circular, flat configuration and a substantially cylindrical tensioning member inserted inline with the cylindrical rod for maintaining the tensioning ring in a tensioned configuration within the annular ring of the drumhead and against the drumhead membrane, expanding the tensioning ring to tension the drumhead. 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18  wherein the tensioning member is a fixed length spacer having a receptacle, further comprising the step of inserting a free end of the tensioning ring into the receptacle. 
   
   
     20. The method of tensioning a drumhead of  claim 18  wherein the tensioning member is an adjustable member, further comprising the step of expanding the diameter of the tensioning ring by expanding the tensioning member.